Actuating mechanism for picking sticks



'JanTT5fT9'52 E. w. SHERTZ ETAL 2,532,761

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PICKING STICKS Filed July 31, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l E mm mm Jan. 15, 1952 E. w. SHERTZ ETAL ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PICKING STICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1950 IWN kbN Jer flier-$57452" Jan. 15, 1952 E. w. SHERTZ ETAL 2,532,761

ACTUATING MECHANISM FQR PICKING STICKS Filed July 31, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACTUATIN G MECHANISM FOR PICKING STICKS Application July 31, 1950, Serial No. 176,844

This invention relates to textile looms and is directed more particularly to improved structure for actuating the picking stick of a Wilton loom.

In conventional loom construction, the necessity for frequent replacement of the picking springs and several associated parts, notably the picking lever and picking knock-off pin, has caused considerable loss of time and money. Current practice demands that looms operate at speeds much higher than formerly, and many mills run on twenty-four hour shifts with the result that a loom may be in service continuously. Under these conditions, shutdowns are costly and to be avoided wherever possible. The present invention eliminates or reduces down time of the loom, and in some cases we have found that periods between shutdowns for repairs have been increased six to tenfold.

A primary object of the invention therefore, is to provide an improved picking stick actuating structure for Wilton looms which is simple, positive-acting, and comparatively rugged.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved picking spring housing for Wilton looms.

A further object is to provide an improved picking lever and picking knock-off pin for the picking spring, whereby the wearing life of these parts is substantially prolonged.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawings in which:

Fig. 1a. is a fragmentary front view of the left side of a loom embodying our improved picking stick actuating mechanism;

Fig. lb shows the same mechanism as Fig. 10. but at the right side of the loom;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly sectioned, of the right-hand picking spring and its associated structure, as seen in Fig. 1b;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail as seen at 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail as seen at 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail as seen at 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail as seen at 6-6 of Fig. 1a.;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail as seen at 'I-! of Fig. 11);

Fig. 8 is a perspective of an improved picking knock-off pin as used in the structure of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary front View of one of the picking knock-off levers.

It will be understood that the structure for the 8 Claims. (Cl. 139145) right and left sides of the loom is similar although the parts are not necessarily interchangeable because they face in opposite directions. However, since the function of many of the members is identical, and since the design is merely reversed, the same numbers will be used to designate these parts plus the addition of a letter to indicate a right or left-hand piece. In the interest of clarity therefore, repetition of the description for right and left-hand sides will be avoided.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1a and 1b, a conventional Wilton loom has vertical frame members it and l I, cross frame member 12, and a picking stick cross shaft I 3 supported in frame members Ill and II. Th left-hand picking stick ISL is pivoted at H to bracket ISL on shaft !3, and this picking stick is partially controlled by means of a helical extension spring I9L.

The right-hand picking stick IGR is pivoted at 20 to bracket |8R and picking stick 16B is likewise controlled by spring ISR. In accordance with standard practice, the picking sticks reciprocate within leather check straps, one of which is shown at 2| in Fig. 1b.

The force required to drive the shuttle (not shown) through the shed is imparted to each picking stick by means of its associated picking spring, Right-hand spring 22R is operatively associated with the right-hand picking stick SR and left-hand spring 22L is similarly connected with picking stick i611.

Referring now to Fig. 2, spring 22R is enclosed in a tubular housing or guide 23R which is anchored at one end by means of set screws 26, 24 in a seat 25 on bracket 26R which is in turn secured to the frame cross member l2 by bolts 21, 21. The other end of spring housing 23R is supported in bracket 2BR which is likewise anchored to cross member l2 by bolts 29, 29. Bracket 28B is provided with a cap 30R which clamps housing 23R in place and is readily removable from the bracket by disconnecting cap screws 31, 3 I. The housing 23R. is additionally retained in both brackets by means of a cover 32R secured to bracket 2BR. by cap screws 33, 33, which also retains lubricant and prevents foreign matter from entering the housing.

The spring 22B is compressed by means of the picking spring rod 35R which is enclosed within the bore of the inner picking spring guide 36R. Rod 35R extends through a piston-like flange 31R formed integrally with inner guide 36R and is adjustably connected to rod 35R, by nut 38R and lock nut 39R. It will be understood that when the picking spring rod 35R moves to the right (as seen in Fig. 2) spring 22B is compressed between piston 31R. and bracket 26R. Lubricant may be introduced to the interior of housing 23R through fittings R and HR.

The spring is retained in this compressed condition until it is suddenly released by the knock 01f mechanism whichwill be described more fully hereinafter. The mounting of the spring guides and the provision of both inner and outer guides, has been found to prevent distortion of the spring and to lengthen the working life of the picking spring assembly very substantially. The outer guide and spring assembly are readily accessible and may be quickly removed forservice when necessary.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 6, the improved mechanism for actuating both of the picking springs 22R and 22L will now be described. The right-hand picking rod 35R is connected'to the right-hand picking lever R by means of picking rod link 36R, and the picking lever #53 operatively controls picking stick ifiR by means of picking strap 61R secured to the lever by cap screw 48R. The left-hand picking spring rod 35L is connected to the left-hand picking lever 45L by means of link :iGL (Fig. la), and lever 45L also contacts picking stick ifiL by means of picking strap ML in substantially the same manner that has been described in conjunction with the right-hand picking lever R. The struc-;'

ture of the picking levers and their associated mechanism is similar at each end of the loom except that in one case the parts are designed for right-hand actuation, and in the other case the parts are designed for left-hand actuation.-- Fig. 6 illustrates in detail the left-hand picking lever and its associated mechanism, and it will be understood that the description of Fig. 6 likewise applies to the corresponding right-hand structure of Fig. 1b.

Both the picking springs 22R and 22L are compressed in accordance with the rotation of the picking crankshaft St to which the connecting rod Si is journaled (Fig. 1a). The other end of connecting rod 5i actuates the left-hand rocker arm 52L to which it is journaled by means of a pin 53L anchored by set screw 54L. The rocker arm 52L is pivotally journaled on a pin 55L in bracket 56L that is in turn secured to cross-member l2 by bolt 51L (Fig. 6).

I 600, engages an arcuate notch 62L in picking knock-off lever fiSL which is pivotally mounted on frame member 52 by means of bolt ML. The knock-ofi lever 63L has a downwardly depending arm 651. which, When'in the cooked position, is

located in the path of an adjustable abutment 66L on the rocker arm 52L. Continued rotation of crankshaft 59 causes the rocker arm s21: to pivot in a clockwise direction until abutment BEL engages the arm 65L of the picking knock-off lever 63L, whereupon the picking lever lifts the picking stud roller 63L from notch 52L, thus releasing lever 45L and permitting spring 22L to actuate picking stick 56L. The right and lefthand rocker arms 52 are connected by a tie rod 61 sothat they operate in synchronism but alteris setrthe right-.handspringis released and vice versa.

In the knock-off mechanism heretofore used on 'llooms, the construction of the knock-off levers has given considerable dimculty.

and particularly the latch elements of the levers, In order to substantially lengthen the life of these parts and also to facilitate'servicing, we mount the rollers on needle bearings and employ an improved heat "treated'knock-ofi pin. Both the roller assembly and thepin'may be readily replaced without detaching the knock-01f lever or the picking lever 50 that wear is reduced to a minimum and renewal'is greatly facilitated.

Our improved picking knock-off pin '50 referred to above, is formed from a bolt having a substantially square heat treated head '5! (Figs. 8 and 9). Each knock-oil lever 63L and 63R'is provided with a knock-01f pin 'HJL and 53B which is mounted in the lever so that the head 'HL serves to latch the roller 60L in notch 82L by reason of the biased faces on head liL. In this way the center of roller 66L is beyond the contact point of head 'HL which in effect forms a continuation of notch 62L and provides a retaining area on both sides of the path of travel of the center of roller 68L. This provides a secure lock for the roller GEL when in the latched position. In this way, the area of the slot that is subject to maximum wear is provided with a replaceable hardened heat treated surface. When appreciable wear occurs on one face of head HL, the pin 'iQL may be turned to present a new face to the roller 60L. Positive latching of the rollers in the slots is also assisted by the beveled face 12L, the angular location of which may be adjusted by means of set screw ii-L on the knockoff lever 63L.

It will thus be understood that the improvements in the picking stick actuating mechanism and loom that have been described above. are effective in reducing the'cost of manufacture as well as the cost of servicing.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a loom having apicking stick for actuating a shuttle, a frame, a picking lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a pair of brackets mounted onsaid frame, a tubular picking spring housing removably mounted in said brackets, a picking spring enclosed in said housing, an inner spring guide extending through the bore of the picking spring, an abutment on said guide for compressing the spring upon movement of the guide, an actuating rod connected to said guide, connecting means between said rod and the picking lever, a picking stud roller detachably mountad on said picking lever, a picking knock-off lever pivotally mounted on the frame, walls on said picking knock-off lever defining a recess adapted to receive and to retain said picking stud roller, a rerovable heat treated forward terminus for said recess, and means including a rocker arm for pivoting the picking lever to compress the picking spring and to seat the picking stud roller in the recess on the picking knockoff lever.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the picking stud roller is journaled on a removable stud'in the picking lever.

'3. Apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, in

which the heat treated forward terminus comprises a bolt having a relatively hard, square head.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the heat treated forward terminus comprises a bolt having a relatively hard, square head, and at least one of the faces of said head being biased with respect to the centerline of the bolt.

5. In a loom having a picking stick for actuating a shuttle, a frame, a picking lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a picking stud roller mounted on said picking lever, a picking knockoff lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a wall on said picking knock-off lever defining a recess adapted to receive and to retain said picking stud roller, a detachable forward terminal portion for said wall for contact by said roller as it moves into and out of said recess, and means for pivoting the picking lever to compress the picking spring and to seat the picking stud roller in the recess on the picking knock-off lever.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which said forward terminal portion comprises a bolt having a relatively hard, square head.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which said forward terminal portion comprises a bolt having a relatively hard, squarehead, and at least one of the faces of said head being biased with respect to the centerline of the bolt.

8. In a loom having a picking stick for actuating a shuttle, a picking spring retaining as sembly comprising a pair of brackets secured to said loom, a tubular housing supported in said brackets, a removable cap on one of said brackets adapted to position and retain the housing in said bracket, an axial seat in the other of said brackets, means for axially retaining the housing in each of said brackets, a helical compression spring slidably retained in said housing, a hollow guide extending through the bore of said spring and through the axial abutment in one of said brackets, a rod in said inner guide, a piston positioned at one end of said inner guide, means for adjustably connecting the rod to said piston, and a detachable cap secured to one of said brackets for enclosing said connecting means. EDWARD W. SHERTZ. ROBERT S. WORK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,428,572 Wilson Sept. 12, 1922 1,704,860 Lassey Mar. 12, 1929 2,355,540 Layton et al Aug. 8, 1944 2,415,623 Brooks et al Feb. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 593,904 Germany Mar. 10, 1934 

